Chapter 333: Chapter 287: Xia Shi Town
After tossing in the bamboo tube, the reply arrived instantly, this time with only four simple words: "Agreed as said."
Yang Xiao knew that the deal was set, that he would complete the task of the Drama Robe’s original owner and still make a fortune, truly a windfall.
Gathering up both paintings and all the notes, Yang Xiao walked back to the wooden table, opened the incense burner lid where there was a small copper box with a few walnuts charcoals burning inside. He tore up the paintings and the notes that bore his handwriting, and one by one, dropped them in, waiting for them to burn to ash. Then he picked up the jade plow on the table and crushed the clumps of ashes.
After ensuring there were no traces left, Yang Xiao shouldered his backpack and left. The door opened with a push, and the outside corridor was also deserted.
Even the solid wood cabinet placed outside the door had disappeared; it had contained the 500,000 Yang Xiao had brought, presumably already taken by someone from the hotel.
Returning the same way, Yang Xiao finally left the Peace Hotel. By then the sky was already turning light, and he walked quite a distance before he hailed a car using a mobile app. After several transfers, he finally rushed back to Rongcheng by 9 a.m. The first thing he did was to return to his apartment and cancel the preset email.
He then sent a message to Fu Qingzhu saying he was back and hoped to return the mask to him soon, as he had other matters that required him to leave Rongcheng.
Fu Qingzhu said there was no rush and instructed him to keep the mask safe, to return it to him upon his return since he wouldn’t be visiting the Peace Hotel in the near future and wouldn’t need it temporarily.
Since he would be away for a while longer this time, Yang Xiao needed to take care of some things in his apartment. He grasped the Drama Robe and pulled out the Soul-Capturing Mirror, hiding cash, documents, and items like his laptop that could expose his identity into the Mirror World. He had only recently worked out this usage method for the Soul-Capturing Mirror, which was quite magical. It wasn’t that it created a world of its own but rather served as a key to open the door to the Mirror World.
To be specific, using it in a certain location would open the Mirror World corresponding to that place. Now, having hidden his items in the Mirror World inside his apartment, they could only be retrieved by using the Soul-Capturing Mirror’s ability there when he returned.
"It’s a pity it can’t travel with me," Yang Xiao lamented. If only his wish could come true, he would have a world of his own to store and access various items at any time, as long as he could carry them.
After hiding everything, Yang Xiao looked at the Drama Robe and earnestly promised, "Sister, frankly, it’s not about the money. I just want to help you get revenge."
Whether the Drama Robe believed him or not, Yang Xiao did not know, but he believed himself. He raised his wrist and looked down to see it clean. But as soon as he took out the Ghost Lantern, that very fine red thread appeared again, and it had extended much further than the last time he saw it.
"Hiss——" Yang Xiao drew a sharp breath. Judging by the speed of the red thread, it would reach his heart in about a week’s time.
Time was of the essence, Yang Xiao quickly changed into clothes he didn’t often wear, donned a duckbill hat, pulled the brim low, and after mapping out his route, he set off.
The so-called Xiliu Fort was just the general name for a region located in the northern mountain area of Nandao Province, adjacent to Pingjiang Province where Yang Xiao was based. It covered 6 or 7 counties and surrounding towns and villages. Despite its vastness, the population was sparse, the environment relatively poor, and the local customs rough and fierce.
The place where Yang Xiao got off was called Xia Shi Town. According to information from the hotel, the core stronghold of the Liehu Gang was located here, and so was Huang Sanbing, the gang leader. However, this man was crafty and suspicious, frequently changing his residence. Yang Xiao needed to pinpoint his exact location before making a move.
It was nighttime when he arrived at Xia Shi Town. Frankly speaking, the town was quite well-built, with bustling streets and plenty of entertainment venues like bars and KTVs where tipsy men and women would often stagger out.
"Handsome, handsome, come on in and have some fun. Business K, our girls are really enthusiastic." While walking past the entrance of a KTV, a girl guarding the door came over without invitation, grabbed Yang Xiao’s arm, and started pulling him inside the establishment. The girl had dyed red hair, heavy makeup, and though her face bore youthful features showing her actual young age, probably just at the age of majority.
"Let go, don’t grab me, I’m a decent man," Yang Xiao broke free from the girl’s grasp and left without looking back.
He chose not to stay at a hotel but rather checked into a secluded family-run inn because places like this usually didn’t ask for ID cards.
Pushing open the worn wooden door, the room was pitifully small, just big enough for a bed, a set of simple furniture, and an old wardrobe. Fortunately, it had a private bathroom; although quite dirty, it meant he didn’t need to go outside to use the restroom.
After a long day, Yang Xiao was tired. He washed up quickly and then collapsed onto the bed, beginning to strategize his next moves in his mind.
Suddenly, there was a rustling sound of footsteps outside the door, followed by a very soft knock.
Yang Xiao frowned slightly, pulled a handgun from his backpack, and tucked it behind him. He slowly walked toward the door, looked through the peephole, and saw a thin, sleazy-looking middle-aged man outside—the owner of the inn he was staying in.
Cracking the door open a sliver, Yang Xiao frowned disapprovingly, "What do you want?"
Seeing Yang Xiao, the innkeeper immediately chuckled, pulling out a yellowed photo album from his clothes, "Staying alone, eh? Want some fun?"
"Fun with what?" Yang Xiao feigned ignorance.
"Hehe, how about a girl for some fun, very cheap," the innkeeper assumed business was coming and was very eager, winking suggestively, "All pretty girls, guaranteed satisfaction, no charge if not satisfied."
The shop owner quickly flipped through the photo album, which was filled with photos of young girls in revealing clothes. Suddenly, Yang Xiao noticed a photo that also captured the back of a man in the background, and on the man’s shirt was the image of a fierce tiger with the character for "yellow" stitched onto its shoulder.
Yang Xiao immediately thought that the shop owner might be running a business for Huang Sanbing of the Liehu Gang, which of course, meant he was the lowest of the low, a pimp.
With these thoughts, Yang Xiao’s eyes narrowed, and he feigned a look of interest, "Um... bro, it’s my first time, is it... is it safe?"
The shop owner suddenly laughed, lowering his voice, "Brother, relax, it’s all Lord Huang San’s business. What do you think, safe or not?"
"Is it Huang Sanbing from the Liehu Gang? Lord Huang San?" Yang Xiao feigned surprise.
"Hehe, you’re pretty informed, kid. Exactly," the shop owner licked his lips, showing a proud smile.
"Alright, what are the prices?"
"A quickie for 800, the whole night for 2000."
"That’s expensive. I’m a student, can you... can you give a discount?" Yang Xiao tried tentatively with a careful look.
"Okay, you seem alright to me, brother. Let’s call it making a friend, how much do you want off?" the shop owner pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a drag with squinted eyes, confident that the deal was sealed. Looking at the young guy in front of him with that horny and kidney-deficient look, he was sure to be a returning customer. It’s all about playing the long game.
"200."
"Fine, I’ll knock 200 off, quickie for 600. Choose your girl," the shop owner said generously, ready to hand over the album to Yang Xiao.
But when Yang Xiao caught the album, he just looked up and gave an awkward smile, "Bro, you got me wrong. I meant I can only pay 200... I’m a student."
"Just 200?!" The shop owner was stunned for a moment, then exploded in anger, "What do I care if you’re a student? You think you can play with that amount of money?"
"Scumbag, fuck off as far as you can. 200 bucks? Go jerk yourself off!" The shop owner snatched back the album and walked away, cursing loudly.
Yang Xiao didn’t take it personally, at least his night would be peaceful now. After closing the door, he gained a more direct understanding of Huang Sanbing; he was indeed no good.
To tell the truth, he didn’t sleep well that night; though his own deal hadn’t gone through, the other guests’ liaisons did. The bed in the room above Yang Xiao creaked and squeaked all night, disturbing his sleep.
Around 4 or 5 in the morning, Yang Xiao finally managed to doze off and didn’t wake up until 3 in the afternoon, and that was due to the knocking on his door.
Opening the door, the shop owner stood outside, clearly annoyed, and demanded money, "Time’s up. Pay if you’re staying, get lost if you’re not."
"I’ll stay, I’ll stay." Yang Xiao pulled out two hundred-yuan notes from his pocket, his face showing the pain of parting with them as he handed them to the shop owner.
Despite the place looking rundown, the rent wasn’t cheap: one hundred a day. The owner took the money and left without a word, but not before giving Yang Xiao a meaningful glare, a silent warning that not having had his fun was his own problem, and he better not blab about it.
After dealing with the shop owner, Yang Xiao packed up his things, put on a cap and a mask, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and left. He planned to have a meal first and then look for clues. Searching for Huang Sanbing’s whereabouts step by step was too slow. He decided to capture a member of the Liehu Gang and extract information from them.
As he walked out of the old building hosting the small hostel, Yang Xiao strolled along the street on his own. He quickly noticed a small table set in front of a noodle shop on the street, where two sullen-looking men sat, smoking and drinking, with trash like watermelon rinds, cigarette butts, and empty bottles casually tossed around.
One of the men, stocky in build, rolled up his shirt to reveal a full-back tattoo of a fierce tiger, and a prominent yellow character, almost like a medal, was tattooed in a conspicuous place.
It was dinner time, and the other nearby restaurants were all busy. Only the noodle shop, blocked by the two men, had no customers.
"Heh~~~phew!" The other, monkey-like man turned his head and spat a thick gob of phlegm right onto the steps of the noodle shop’s main entrance.
It was clear to anyone that these two were here to cause trouble; it was just unknown what the noodle shop owner had done to offend them.
Yang Xiao looked up at the sun, which hadn’t fully set yet—not the best time for a fight. He turned around and headed to a fast-food restaurant across the street.
First, fill the stomach. Otherwise, there’d be no strength to fight later.
